What are lab-grown diamonds?
Everything you need to know before choosing a stone — how they're grown, how they compare to mined diamonds, and how to pick the right one. Written in plain English, no jargon.
A real diamond — just grown above ground
A lab-grown diamond is not an imitation. It is pure carbon crystallized in the same cubic structure as a diamond dug from the earth — the same hardness (10/10 Mohs), the same refractive brilliance, the same fire. The only difference is where it was born: in a laboratory reactor instead of a mine.
That's why independent gemological institutes like IGI grade lab-grown and mined diamonds with the exact same standards, and why a certified lab-grown stone is a genuine diamond in every legal and gemological sense.
How lab-grown diamonds are made
There are two growth methods, and both start from a thin slice of diamond called a seed:
- CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) — the seed sits in a vacuum chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. Microwaves turn the gas into plasma, and carbon atoms rain down layer by layer, building the crystal over several weeks.
- HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature) — the seed is placed under conditions that mimic the Earth's mantle: pressures around 5 GPa and temperatures above 1,300°C, dissolving carbon into the growing crystal.
Both methods produce real diamond. The growth type is recorded on the grading report, and at Everlum you can always filter by CVD or HPHT stones in our loose diamond search.
Lab-grown vs mined: what actually differs
In appearance and durability: nothing. In price, provenance and environmental footprint: quite a lot.
| 1.5 ct Round Solitaire | Lab-Grown | Mined |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical composition | Pure carbon | Pure carbon |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 10 / 10 | 10 / 10 |
| Certification | IGI | GIA / IGI |
| Typical price | $1,890 | $12,000+ |
| Land disturbed | ~0 m² | Up to 175 t of rock per carat |
The 4Cs, in 60 seconds
Every certified diamond — grown or mined — is graded on the same four dimensions:
- Carat — the stone's weight, not its size. 1.00 ct is the most popular engagement range.
- Color — graded D (totally colorless) to Z. D–F look icy white; G–H offer the best value for a near-colorless look.
- Clarity — from FL/IF (flawless under 10× magnification) down to SI (slight inclusions). VS1–VS2 stones look clean to the naked eye and cost meaningfully less.
- Cut — the biggest driver of sparkle. Never compromise here: Excellent or Ideal cut grades maximize light return.
Our rule of thumb: spend on cut first, then carat, then color, then clarity — and always buy certified.
What to check before you buy
- A grading report from IGI, GIA or an equivalent lab
- The certificate number laser-inscribed on the stone's girdle
- Whether the growth method (CVD / HPHT) is disclosed
- A seller who answers questions before you pay — not after
Every Everlum diamond meets all four. Browse certified stones in our loose diamond search, or explore them set in finished designs in the collections. Questions? The FAQ covers shipping, returns and certification — or message us on WhatsApp and a human will reply.
Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. A lab-grown diamond is chemically, physically and optically identical to a mined diamond — pure carbon in a cubic crystal structure, grading 10/10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Independent labs like IGI grade both types with the same standards.
How are lab-grown diamonds made?
Two methods: CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) grows the crystal from carbon-rich gas in a plasma chamber, while HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) replicates the natural growth environment deep in the Earth. Both produce genuine diamond — not a simulant like cubic zirconia or moissanite.
Can you tell the difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds?
Not by eye, and not with a jeweler's loupe. Even trained gemologists need specialized equipment (infrared spectroscopy or fluorescence imaging) to tell them apart. Every Everlum stone over 0.5ct carries a laser inscription matching its IGI certificate so its origin is always documented.
Why are lab-grown diamonds cheaper?
Mining is expensive: moving tons of rock per carat, plus the environmental and logistical costs. Growing diamonds in a lab skips all of that, so the same quality stone typically costs 60–70% less — and the price gap widens every year as growth technology improves.
Do lab-grown diamonds come with certificates?
Reputable sellers grade them exactly like mined stones. Everlum diamonds are certified by IGI (International Gemological Institute) with full 4Cs documentation — carat, color, clarity and cut — plus the laser-inscribed certificate number on the girdle.